Wisconsin's 5th District: A Nonpartisan Guide to the Nov. 3 Election

How to Use This Guide

1. Pick the issues you care about. Choose the two or three that matter most to you.
2. Find which office handles them. The U.S. House votes on every federal law and the federal budget; bills that raise revenue must start there. Ballot measures on this guide change the Wisconsin state constitution or authorize local school spending.
3. Compare the candidates. Read where each candidate stands on your top issues, then check the candidates' own words, their endorsements, and who funds each campaign.

Wisconsin's 5th Congressional District uses the map created by 2023 Wisconsin Act 94, which places all of Jefferson and Washington counties in the district along with parts of Dodge, Milwaukee, Walworth and Waukesha counties. ​

A 2026 challenge to the existing congressional map was dismissed by a three-judge panel; the Wisconsin Supreme Court agreed to review that dismissal, but the sources available do not establish a final resolution of the appeal.

Candidates appear in official ballot order: Scott Fitzgerald (Republican) first, then Andrew Beck (Democratic), as listed in the Wisconsin Elections Commission's official 2026 ballot-order document.

The U.S. House Race

What This Office Does

U.S. House members serve two-year terms and vote on every federal law and the federal budget. The district's 2026 lines follow the congressional map created by 2023 Wisconsin Act 94, which places all of Jefferson and Washington counties in District 5 along with parts of Dodge, Milwaukee, Walworth and Waukesha counties. The race is rated Solid Republican by the 270towin consensus, according to 270toWin.

Candidates in Brief

| | Scott Fitzgerald (R) | Andrew Beck (D) |
| -------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Party | Republican | Democratic |
| Incumbent? | Yes | No |
| Background | U.S. representative for Wisconsin's 5th District since 2021; served in the Wisconsin Senate from 1995 to 2020; served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1981 to 2009, reaching lieutenant colonel | Born and raised in Milwaukee; attended Milwaukee Public Schools; worked as an MRI technologist and led product development at GE Healthcare; earned an MBA at Cardinal Stritch |
| Top priorities | Secure the border, end reckless spending, bring relief to Wisconsin; grow the economy and help small businesses; American energy independence | Lower costs, good jobs, better healthcare, protecting Social Security and Medicare; safeguard democracy; combat climate change |
| Campaign website | scottfitzgeraldforcongress.com | beckforcongress.com |

Scott Fitzgerald has represented Wisconsin's 5th District since 2021, previously served in the Wisconsin Senate from 1995 to 2020, and served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1981 to 2009, reaching lieutenant colonel. Andrew Beck was born and raised in Milwaukee and worked as an MRI technologist and led product development at GE Healthcare. The Beck for Congress website says Andrew Beck attended Milwaukee Public Schools and earned an MBA at Cardinal Stritch while raising a family.

Where They Stand

| Issue | Scott Fitzgerald (R) | Andrew Beck (D) |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Cost of living | Supports tax cuts and lower costs; describes affordability as the district's biggest challenge | Would reduce prescription drug costs, expand affordable healthcare, increase housing construction, invest in job training, protect Social Security and Medicare, and stop corporate price gouging |
| Healthcare | Opposes a government-run healthcare plan; favors lowering prescription drug prices and protecting people with pre-existing conditions | Says healthcare should be accessible at a practical price, including mental-health care; says women should decide their own healthcare choices |
| Housing | Not found | Proposes an "Afford to Grow" plan to provide young and displaced Americans an affordable place to live and build home equity |
| Immigration | Would secure the border, end illegal immigration, and stop the illegal drug trade | Says the U.S. needs an immigration system that secures borders, protects human dignity and reflects the nation's values |
| Abortion | Campaign website says he believes abortion should be illegal | Says he will defend women's healthcare rights and that rights should not be decided by politicians |
| Climate and energy | Says companies should pay for their own energy resources and not increase local residents' rates | Says policies should reduce global warming's effects, including reducing greenhouse gases and supporting agencies addressing climate effects |
| Foreign policy | Not found | Not found |
| Elections | Says elections should be free and fair; opposes proposals he says would weaken voter ID safeguards or increase federal control of Wisconsin elections | Says protecting democracy is a central priority; supports transparency in election financing |
| Data centers | Says data-center companies should pay for their own energy resources and not raise local residents' rates; development should protect privacy and security | Supports a brief pause on new large-scale data-center construction until safeguards are in place, including protections for water, farmland and energy supply and against higher utility bills |
| Flock cameras | Supports law enforcement using the technology, subject to constitutional compliance, privacy protections, penalties for misuse, limits on data retention and safeguards against foreign theft of personal information | Says Flock cameras may aid law enforcement but need stricter controls on data access, retention and sharing to address privacy concerns |

In Their Own Words

Scott Fitzgerald, in The Freeman candidate questionnaire, 2026:

"I am running to protect taxpayers and lower costs for seniors and hardworking families."

Andrew Beck, in The Freeman candidate questionnaire on data centers, 2026:

"Wisconsin must protect our water, farmland and energy supply and make sure families and small businesses aren't stuck paying higher utility bills to subsidize massive projects."

Questionnaires and Debates

Scott Fitzgerald responded to The Freeman / Conley Media questionnaire. No response was found for Fitzgerald on the WUWM questionnaire or Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

Andrew Beck responded to the WUWM questionnaire, The Freeman / Conley Media questionnaire, and Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

A candidate forum hosted by the Fort Atkinson and Jefferson Chambers of Commerce was held Oct. 15, 2026. Andrew Beck took part; Scott Fitzgerald was invited but could not attend due to a prior commitment. A SOPHIA/WISDOM forum was scheduled for Oct. 19, but participation by either candidate was not confirmed in the available source.

Endorsements

Scott Fitzgerald, a Republican, has represented Wisconsin's 5th District in the U.S. House since 2021. Andrew Beck is endorsed by the Wisconsin AFL-CIO, according to the Wisconsin AFL-CIO's candidate endorsements page.

| Candidate | Endorser | Type | Source |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------ | ----------------- |
| Scott Fitzgerald | Donald Trump | Executive branch / federal officials | Ballotpedia |
| Andrew Beck | Wisconsin AFL-CIO | Labor unions | Wisconsin AFL-CIO |

No additional endorsements were found in the available sources for either candidate. Voters seeking a fuller list may check each campaign's website directly.

Who is Funding Them

Scott Fitzgerald's fundraising totals run through October 14, while Andrew Beck's run only through June 30.

| | Scott Fitzgerald (R) | Andrew Beck (D) |
| ------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------ | ------------------------------- |
| Total raised | $1.7 million (through Oct. 14, 2026) | $15,000 (through June 30, 2026) |
| Small donors (under $200) | 10% | 67% |
| Larger donors (over $200) | 31% | 25% |
| PACs and other committees | 59% | 0% |
| Party committees | 0% | 0% |
| Self-funding | $0 (0%) | $1,625 (11%) |
| Transfers from joint fundraising | $14,000 | $0 |
| Cash on hand | $1.2 million (Oct. 14, 2026) | $3,158 (June 30, 2026) |
| Larger-donor dollars from WI | $167,000 (37% of itemized) | $3,550 (100% of itemized) |
| Outside spending for / against | $0 / $0 | $0 / $0 |

Top PACs contributing to Scott Fitzgerald: Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. Political Action Committee (ABC PAC) at $15,000; MR. Southern Missourian in the House PAC at $15,000; ACPAC ACA International Political Action Committee at $10,000; Amazon.com Services LLC Separate Segregated Fund (Amazon PAC) at $10,000; and America's Credit Unions PAC at $10,000. No PAC donors were reported for Andrew Beck.

No outside spending for or against Scott Fitzgerald was reported through Oct. 14, 2026, and none for or against Andrew Beck was reported through June 30, 2026.

Donors who give more than $200 in a cycle are listed by name in FEC filings; smaller gifts are reported only as a lump total, so small donors' names are not public.

The Incumbent's Record

Votes listed here were selected by one rule applied to every incumbent: final passage of each spending, budget, or defense bill that became law, every vote on a war powers resolution, and every vote against the majority of the member's own party, from the official House and Senate roll calls.

Committees and Caucuses

Scott Fitzgerald serves on the House Financial Services Committee and the House Judiciary Committee in the 119th Congress. Fitzgerald chairs the House Judiciary Committee's Administrative State, Regulatory Reform and Antitrust Subcommittee, and also serves on the Judiciary Committee's Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence and the Internet Subcommittee; the Financial Services Committee's Housing and Insurance Subcommittee; the Financial Services Committee's Financial Institutions Subcommittee; and the Financial Services Committee's Monetary Policy, Treasury Market Resilience and Economic Prosperity Task Force.

Caucus memberships include the Campus Free Speech Caucus, Cigar Caucus, Congressional Army Caucus, Congressional Cheese Caucus, Congressional FinTech and Payments Caucus, Congressional French Caucus, Congressional Friends of Ireland Caucus, Congressional Military Family Caucus, Congressional Printing Caucus, Congressional Propane Caucus, Congressional Western Caucus, Election Integrity Caucus, House Baltic Caucus, House Republican Conference, House Republican Israel Caucus, House Republican Jobs and the Economy Task Force, House Republican Study Committee, School Choice Caucus, and Values Action Team.

Key Votes Since June 2026

| Date | Measure | Question | Fitzgerald's vote | Outcome | Broke with party? |
| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------- | ----------------- | ------- | ----------------- |
| June 4, 2026 | Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Act, 2027 | On Passage | Yes | Passed | No |
| June 3, 2026 | Directing the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran (War Powers Resolution) | On Agreeing to the Resolution | No | Passed | No |
| June 4, 2026 | Directing the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from Lebanon (War Powers Resolution) | On Agreeing to the Resolution | No | Failed | No |
| June 30, 2026 | Directing the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities in Lebanon (War Powers Resolution) | On Agreeing to the Resolution | No | Failed | No |
| July 22, 2026 | Making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2027 | On Passage | Yes | Passed | No |
| July 22, 2026 | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027 | On Passage | Yes | Passed | No |
| July 23, 2026 | Directing the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran (War Powers Resolution) | On Agreeing to the Resolution | No | Passed | No |
| Sept. 1, 2026 | To amend the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 to extend North Atlantic right whale regulations | On Passage | Yes | Passed | No |
| Sept. 16, 2026 | Directing the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran (War Powers Resolution) | On Agreeing to the Resolution | No | Passed | No |

On the three war powers resolutions directing removal of U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran that came to a vote since June 2026, Fitzgerald voted No each time. Two of those resolutions passed the House; one failed. On the war powers resolution concerning Lebanon that came to a vote on June 4, Fitzgerald voted No, and the resolution failed; on the June 30 Lebanon resolution, Fitzgerald again voted No, and the resolution again failed.

Scott Fitzgerald voted against the majority of Republicans on four roll-call votes since June 2026. All four were procedural amendment votes, not final-passage votes on legislation.

| Date | Roll call | Question | Fitzgerald's vote | Outcome |
| ------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------- | ----------------- | ------- |
| July 15, 2026 | Roll call 241 | On Agreeing to the Amendment | Yes | Failed |
| July 15, 2026 | Roll call 245 | On Agreeing to the Amendment | No | Failed |
| July 22, 2026 | Roll call 258 | On Agreeing to the Amendment | Yes | Passed |
| July 22, 2026 | Roll call 276 | On Agreeing to the Amendment | No | Failed |

Attendance

The member missed 0 of 123 roll-call votes since June 2026. Attendance figures covering the full 119th Congress are not available in the record; the official House biography page for Fitzgerald can be checked for additional detail.

Bills Sponsored

Scott Fitzgerald sponsored 31 bills in the 119th Congress: 21 remain at the introduced stage, four are at floor consideration, three are in committee, and three have passed the House.

Bills that passed the House:

Bills at floor consideration:

Scott Fitzgerald has cosponsored 175 bills.

Contested Claims

The Fitzgerald campaign, as reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, says Fitzgerald's record includes supporting lower taxes, securing the border, protecting family farms, supporting law enforcement, prioritizing U.S. energy independence and fiscal responsibility. No fact-check was found for this claim.

The Beck campaign, as reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, says Fitzgerald's party's policies and decisions have driven up everyday costs, and that Fitzgerald's support for them puts Social Security and Medicare at risk. No fact-check was found for this claim.

A prior-term vote on the record: Fitzgerald voted No on H.R. 1280, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021, on passage on March 3, 2021.

Challengers' Records

Andrew Beck has not held elected or appointed public office. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that Beck had not worked in politics and that his 2024 congressional run did not qualify for the ballot.

Scorecards Readers Can Check

Several interest groups publish scorecards rating Scott Fitzgerald's voting record. The Heritage Action for America scorecard rates Fitzgerald's record for the 119th Congress (2025–2026). The American Conservative Union / CPAC scored Fitzgerald's votes in the 2024 legislative session.

The National Taxpayers Union named Fitzgerald among the members it scored for 2024. The AFL-CIO scorecard names Fitzgerald among the legislators it rated for 2025. The League of Conservation Voters publishes a scorecard on Fitzgerald's record for 2025. The Lugar Center Bipartisan Index ranks Fitzgerald among House members for the 118th Congress (2022–2023) without a numeric score in this article.

Different groups select different sets of votes, so their ratings measure different things: a high score from one group and a low score from another can both be accurate, reflecting which votes each group chose to track. Andrew Beck has not served in Congress, so no congressional scorecard ratings apply to Beck.

Also On Your Ballot

Three statewide constitutional amendments appear on every District 5 voter's ballot on Nov. 3. One local measure was confirmed for voters in part of Jefferson County. Voters in Washington, Dodge, Milwaukee, Walworth and Waukesha counties should check their county clerk's sample ballot for any additional local measures not confirmed in the available sources.

Statewide Measures

| Designation | Topic | What a Yes vote does | What a No vote does |
| ----------- | ---------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- |
| Question 1 | Partial veto and taxes | Amends the state constitution to prohibit the governor from using a partial veto to create or increase any tax or fee | Leaves the state constitution unamended on this question |
| Question 2 | Places of worship during emergencies | Amends the state constitution to prohibit the state and local governments from ordering places of worship closed or forbidding gatherings there during a state of emergency | Leaves the state constitution unamended on this question |
| Question 3 | Government discrimination and preferential treatment | Creates a new state constitutional provision prohibiting governmental entities from discriminating or granting preferential treatment on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in public employment, education, contracting or administration | Leaves the state constitution unamended on this question |

Question 1 — Partial veto

The official ballot question reads: "Partial veto. Shall section 10 (1) (c) of article V of the constitution be amended to prohibit the governor, in exercising his or her partial veto authority, from creating or increasing or authorizing the creation or increase of any tax or fee?"

The official explanation says current law allows a partial veto to result in more or fewer taxes or fees, including authorizing local governments to increase or decrease them. The amendment would bar using that veto power to create or increase taxes or fees, including local taxes or fees. The 2025 Legislature agreed to the amendment in 2025 Senate Joint Resolution 116, after the 2023 Legislature agreed to the prior-stage proposal; the official notice gives no final vote tally or party breakdown.

No fiscal impact was found in the official notice. No organized support was found in the available sources. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel identifies the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin as an opponent; its report says opponents argue the amendment could limit future governors' ability to raise needed funds.

Question 2 — Freedom to gather in places of worship during an emergency

The official ballot question reads: "Freedom to gather in places of worship during an emergency. Shall section 18 of article I of the constitution, which deals with religious liberty, be amended to prohibit the state or a political subdivision of the state from ordering the closure of, or forbidding gatherings in, places of worship in response to a state of emergency, including a public health emergency?"

The official explanation says current law permits officials to limit public gatherings, including religious gatherings, during a declared emergency when religious and secular gatherings are treated equivalently. The amendment would prohibit officials from closing or forbidding gatherings in places of worship even when other types of public gatherings are closed. The 2025 Legislature agreed to the amendment in 2025 Assembly Joint Resolution 10, after the 2023 Legislature agreed to the prior-stage proposal; the official notice gives no final vote tally or party breakdown.

No fiscal impact was found in the official notice. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel identifies Pro-Life Wisconsin and Wisconsin Family Action as supporters of Question 2. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel identifies the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin as an opponent; its report says the group argues the measure would limit government's ability to mitigate emergencies.

Question 3 — Governmental entity discrimination prohibited

The official ballot question reads: "Governmental entity discrimination prohibited. Shall section 27 of article I of the constitution be created to prohibit governmental entities in the state from discriminating against, or granting preferential treatment to, any individual or group based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, public education, public contracting, or public administration?"

The official explanation says current state and federal law prohibit discrimination on the listed bases subject to specified standards and circumstances. The amendment would create a new state constitutional prohibition covering public employment, education, contracting, and administration, with exceptions described in the official notice.

The 2025 Legislature agreed to the amendment in 2025 Assembly Joint Resolution 102, after the 2023 Legislature agreed to the prior-stage proposal; the official notice gives no final vote tally or party breakdown.

No fiscal impact was found in the official notice. No organized support was found in the available sources. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel identifies the ACLU of Wisconsin and the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin as opponents of Question 3; its report says they argue the wording may make voters think state law lacks protections that already exist.

Local measures

Voters in the Lake Mills Area School District in Jefferson County will see a referendum asking: "Shall the Lake Mills Area School District, Jefferson County, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $2,900,000 per year for four years, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year and ending with the 2029-2030 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of operational expenses, including educational programming, staff salaries and benefits, technology, maintenance, and transportation expenses?"

A Yes vote authorizes the district to exceed the state revenue limit by $2,900,000 per year for four years for those purposes. A No vote does not authorize the district to exceed the revenue limit as described. No fiscal impact, organized support, or organized opposition was found in the available sources for the Lake Mills Area School District referendum.

No local measures were confirmed for Washington, Dodge, Milwaukee, Walworth or Waukesha counties in the available sources. Voters in those counties should check their county clerk's sample ballot for any additional local measures.

Before You Go

  • Election Day hours: Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 3, 2026. Voters must be in line by 8 p.m. Source: Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) voter reminder.
  • Early voting: In-person absentee voting is available before Election Day; check with your municipal clerk for locations and hours. The WEC's Oct. 29 reminder confirmed early voting was underway but did not state a statewide last day. Sources: WEC voter reminder; WEC absentee voting.
  • Photo ID: An acceptable photo ID is required to vote; it need not show the voter's current address. For a full list of accepted IDs and what to do if you lack one, visit the WEC Photo ID page.
  • In the booth: The WEC's available pages do not state whether voters may bring a sample ballot or notes, or what is not allowed. Check the WEC voter information page for current guidance before Election Day.
  • Registration: Online and mail registration are available up to 20 days before the election. In-person registration at the municipal clerk's office is available through the Friday before the election. Same-day registration is available at the polling place on Election Day. Sources: WEC registration page; WEC voter reminder.
  • Mail ballots: Absentee ballots must arrive by 8 p.m. on Election Day. The WEC advises voters who have not yet mailed their ballot to arrange drop-off and contact their municipal clerk for drop-off locations. Sources: WEC voter reminder; WEC absentee-ballot deadline.
  • Polling place lookup: MyVote Wisconsin. Source: WEC Voter Information Center.
  • Hotlines: Wisconsin Elections Commission: 1-866-VOTE-WIS (868-3947). Election Protection: call or text 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683). Sources: WEC Photo ID page; 866ourvote.org.

Sources

Official records

Campaign finance

Candidate statements and questionnaires

  • Scott Fitzgerald for Congress — scottfitzgeraldforcongress.com
  • Beck for Congress — beckforcongress.com
  • The Freeman / Greater Milwaukee Today — Fitzgerald and Beck questionnaire responses
  • WUWM — Wisconsin's 5th Congressional District candidates
  • Ballotpedia — Scott Fitzgerald
  • Ballotpedia — Andrew Beck
  • Daily Union — Fort Atkinson/Jefferson Chambers forum, Oct. 15, 2026

News and fact-checks

Advocacy groups

  • Heritage Action for America — Scott Fitzgerald scorecard
  • AFL-CIO — Scott Fitzgerald scorecard
  • League of Conservation Voters — Scott Fitzgerald
  • Lugar Center Bipartisan Index — 2023 House full report
  • Wisconsin AFL-CIO — Candidate endorsements
  • Election Protection hotline — 866ourvote.org

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